Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai Readying for a Historic Night in Bossier City

By the time Cirque du Soleil’s Varekai is performed at Bossier City’s CenturyLink Center on Friday, Dec. 13, the production will have visited 72 cities in 20 countries around the world, playing to audiences totaling more than 8 million. However, none of those 8 million people will have seen the show as we’ll be seeing it in Bossier City. That’s because Varekai (the title comes from the Romany language, and means “wherever”) has previously traveled the world in a massive big top tent. Cirque du Soleil’s team are presently in Bossier City, involved in a massive effort to relaunch Varekai as an arena tour. It’ll literally be the first time they’ve ever used the brand-new stage.

“This will be the fourth arena transition for Cirque,” said Mike Naumann, assistant production manager. “We’re in 19 53-foot trailers now, where we were in 60 53-foot trailers before. The stage is brand new. But these are the same incredible performers who closed the big top version of the show in Mexico City.”

The show itself is a re-imagining of the Greek myth of Icarus. In Varekai, Icarus doesn’t fall into the sea and drown – he falls into a magical forest filled with exotic creatures. When I visited backstage today at the invitation of the event’s producers, it was already clear that the forest – consisting of 331 “trees” ranging from 18 to 32 feet in height, as well as a golden catwalk that twists and turns, high above the audience – will be breathtaking when completed. The 12 acts of Varekai, with names like “Icarian Games” and “Russian Swings,” suggest that there will be plenty of airborne acrobatics during the two-hour show.

Varekai will be performed at the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13 and at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14. The show is suitable for all ages.